Siberian Education (2013)

As someone born and raised in USSR, I state this is the stupidest movie about criminal I ever seen. It has nothing to do with reality. The guy who comes from prison with long hair? You may stop watching right there. Why USSR, not Wisconsin? Stupid, stupid, stupid... period.

I read a lot of reviews about this movie from Siberian people who complains about the truth of this movie. This movie is based on the Nicolai Lilin book, it doesn't want to be true it's just the movie version of the book. So yes there are a lot of things that maybe are untrue about the use and costume of the Siberian people of the 90's. About the cinematic adaptation of the book I have to say that isn't completely a success. Kolyma in the book is forced to join the army and it didn't join to find Gagarin. There is not such a big conflict between the 2 guys in the novel. As always the book it's definitely more intense of the movie, in the movie they changed to much the story for no reason. So if you can , read the book before watching the movie. So i'm not happy about all the changes they have done to the story but I have to say that on a big part of the movie you still fill the sensation to be out of the time in a desolation place in Siberia

If you really like this movie try Borat (or Russian Dancing Men) next, another one true and in-depth biopic about (ex-)USSR people's way of life. Why you westerners are ready to swallow any bulls**t about Russia so easily? Let me share this formula of highly sellable "a la Russe" trash, so you'll be able to cash in on it the same way like Mr. Lilin did. Take a couple of grim facts of Soviet/Russian history and add a lot of s**t to make everything look even worse (do not overdo though for we do not need to get any highbrow surrealistic Pasolini-like overtones). If you are not good in fabricating stories use some golden classic, like Once upon a time in America for instance, as a cut-and-paste source. Then tell everyone that it's your personal story, firsthand experience and/or your family background.No one knew anything about this new great Russian author in Russia before we happened to hear about his fantastic success with western audience. Do you know why? Because they did not publish his books for Russia. Do you know why? Because they can sell them here as a pulp fiction only. And we've got tons of similar pulp, yet not as ludicrous as Mr. Lilin's books. So keep this "new Russian classic" of urka-exploitation genre for yourselves if you can see no difference.

Every once in awhile a person has to be in a certain mood to watch certain movies. Does that make sense? "Educazione siberana" or Siberian Education is a mood movie. It is a somewhat slow drama about a small group of boys growing up as members of a ethnic Siberian community. If you don't know a little about these people, it's much like the mob and it was created by the Soviet penal system. It's a slow movie but it is a human drama. DOn't let the title fool you this is an English speaking movie. Although it takes place in the Soviet Union it is a very relateble tale. A story about how people change and grow apart especially in the face serving time in prison. John Malkovich plays the part of an old, wise grandfather in it. He is his usual great acting self, but his role is limited.I do have a problem with this movie though. There are somethings I felt needed a little explaining, and could have made this movie from good to great. The main character, at some point leaves the community, and joins the Russian Military. There are scenes interspersed in the movie with him in uniform as the story of the past is unfolding. But it stops short of giving us a good clear picture of if this effected his family, or the community. It is just an odd way to get him to the end he is seeking. He could have taken care of the problem, right then and there, without all the years passing by.I give it a seven. I usually have to be in a mood to watch a long, unfolding drama such as this one, and I was. A few problems don't ruin it too much but would have went a long way.